Herm Speaks 11/25
From Arrowhead Stadium
Herm Edwards had his best line of the season to date on Tuesday when he met with the media horde for his weekly press conference.
Edwards was asked about silly rumors that have floated this week that have connected him with the now open San Diego State head coaching job.
“I’ve got a college team right now and I’m coaching it,” Edwards said with a smile.
At least the head coach hasn’t lost his sense of humor. Despite the 1-10 record and the seven-game losing streak, the questioning was rather benign this week.
Still, there were some points of interest.
ON WHETHER HE’S IN COMMUNICATION WITH CLARK HUNT
“Yeah, we talk all the time. He knows exactly what we’re trying to do. We’re all on the same page. That’s what’s great about this. You have to be on the same page. There is no gray area. Everyone signed off on this. We all signed off on this. This is what we’re going to do. You’ve got to have guts to do it and that’s why everyone doesn’t like doing this because it’s hard. Do you anticipate it being this hard? No. Are there some factors involved in this that maybe you didn’t expect? Yeah. You’re playing with your third-string quarterback, who all the sudden he’s developing. You lose two quarterbacks on the way and lose a couple of other players. That’s not an excuse but you can’t anticipate that. But it happens. Everyone is on the same page, everyone knows what the direction we are going in and at the end of the day we’ll be able to evaluate the football team and say OK, here’s what we need to do to continue to get better and improve.”Â
Translation: No matter what you may think of Herm Edwards, let me assure you he is a very smart man. He’s also been around the NFL long enough to know the landscape. He would not have taken this all-out rebuilding effort of the team without support from the owner. He quite obviously got that support and based on everything that Hunt has said publicly, the support has not wavered. Without it, doing what he’s done would have been signing the death sentence on his job. It’s obvious that he believes that ownership continues to support him.
GIVEN THE FACT THE CHIEFS HAVE ONLY SIX SACKS, DOES HE STILL BELIEVE THE JARED ALLEN TRADE WAS THE RIGHT MOVE
“No doubt, because it was the right thing to do for the football team. You’re trying to build a football team. How do you do that? You have to get players and we’re in a situation where we knew what we were going to do. We were going to go young and we were going to draft players who were going to play. We’re going to find out what they are and that’s what we’ve done. The only way we got those draft choices was through the Jared Allen trade. We got more picks but not only do get picks but those guys have become starters. Now, are they gaining experience? Yeah, they’re rookie starters. Long time ago Jared Allen was a rookie starter too. Jared Allen wasn’t Jared Allen until he became the player that he’s become through hard work and experience. Is he a very good player? Yeah, he is, but you couldn’t say that in his first year. You saw some flashes but as he grew at the position and became better, he became the player that he is and everyone knows. It’s the same with some of these guys. They’ll get better. They’re getting better. The problem is they’re just so young and there are so many of them that you don’t see the fruits of their labor yet, but you will and that’s what we’re counting on.”
Comment: On paper, there’s no question that at this moment the Vikings got the lopsided end of the trade for Allen. They are in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs and Allen has been one of the league’s better pass rushers. In return for Allen, the Chiefs got Branden Albert, Jamaal Charles, DaJuan Morgan and Kevin Robinson. Right now, Albert is the only starter in that group, but Charles has seen extensive playing time. Down the road, however, those four players may all be making major contributions to the Chiefs. They’ve all shown ability. The future is ahead of them. Having Allen on this defense would have brought more sacks to the Chiefs, but would it have delivered more victories? The Chiefs were 4-12 with Allen having his best career season in ’07. For the sake of argument, let’s say Allen could have brought an extra victory, even two. So the Chiefs are 3-8, instead of 1-10. If the Chiefs get three starters and a punt-kick returner out of the deal within three seasons, then the trade scales will even out.
Keep up the great work Coach Edwards. ALL of KC is behind you and we know that you will lead us back to glory very soon now.
AND NOW, Clark Hunt has RE-affirmed Herm’s The Man!
Just like when Vermeil wouldn’t fire an obvious to all inept Greg Robinson the denial to failure still runs thru Kansas City. 32 million under the cap. They aren’t even trying. Hello, there are 7 rounds in the draft and after the 3rd its a coin flip. You can’t just build via the draft. This is the worse most clueless organization in football.
Bob
You could have been nee were reading my mind with your ‘takes’ this article regards Herm. Rin could have written it as well said it – and has in fact here your blog and elsewhere.
Seems some folk (not the least of which be other outlets including radio, TV and newspapers) seem hell-bent on “making” a story where none exists, out of all proportion copious doses nothing (own personal unrequited desires/whims theirs- rather than reporting facts…rumour-mongers as twere.)
One does not have to be employed by the KC Chiefs (Rin’s not) to see the incestuousness that exists amongst many the local Kaycee media throng – like a feeding frenzy in an all you can eat restaurant-no one is in the least bit concerned with picking up the tab “accountability” as twere … personal satisfaction ‘first’ being the thing, just as the sentiment same is the only thing might cause them to cannibalize each other: being first, and ‘not’ necessarily ‘accurate’ nee right.
I’ll give them some measure benefit of the doubt that said is partially because they “care”, just as everyone cares to the end realization hope(s)their own. However one would have to be blind to not see the obvious – truth takes a back seat to convenience.
They’re too busy to notice the dirt in their own corners, to borrow from the memoirs Herm…
jesus dude did u use a encyclopedia when you wrote that stuff. herms awsome were gonna kick ass next year
“jesus”
- close…Rin Tin Tin
“dude”
- 1. Informal. An Easterner or city person who vacations on a ranch in the West.
2. Informal. A man who is very fancy or sharp in dress and demeanor.
3. Slang.
1. A man; a fellow.
2. dudes Persons of either sex.
- Rin meets the requirements above option 3.(1); I’m not an Easterner nor go I do Ranch (Thousand Island man, I) so 1. be out … too, whilst both devastatingly sharp & fancy via narrative style, my wardrobe is more so ‘Mod Squad’ – circa 1969, as mine sensibility. Demeanor mine? A tough one – literally so – although tis hard being forthright shy infering Rin be less than humble – certainly not malleable…so, nix 2. and also 3.(2).
“did u use a encyclopedia when you wrote that stuff.”
- no; rather, delved into mine encyclopedic fund knowledge – whew!, am I tired…dude. But enough about me…how ’bout that Herm!
“herms awsome were gonna kick ass next year”
- yes…I think Herm will lead us back to glory very soon now – AND NOW (drum roll), Clark Hunt has RE-affirmed Herm’s The Man! (rim shot/cymbal crash!)
I think I smell a Rufus Dowed in Reine Tin Tin.Can it be Carl? ? How could 2 people write the same way with all that oratory & other useless words that means the same but would take a lot less paper & less time on spell check.Just Say What You Men Dude Number 2 describes you two a tee.
That should have read Say what you mean Dude
“I think I smell”
- yes…it’s probably your tee-shirt
“a Rufus Dowed in Reine Tin Tin.Can it be Carl?”
- well, if you’re not sure…best two out of three?
“How could 2 people write the same way with all that oratory & other useless words that means the same but would take a lot less paper & less time on spell check.”
- 33 consecutive comma-less rapid fire words in an attempt to be concise, yours…be you asking nee is this an inquest the death of clarity, or are you making a declaration?
Do you espouse the deprecation in juxtaposition inordinate prolixity matters literary verbosity, for purposes embellishment the realm loquacious composition, which is tantamount to the faculty for cognitive carnage – which is to say, modern English-especially written English-is in decline and full of bad habits which spread by imitation? Is this what you meant? Rin’s just quessing now.
“less time on spell check.”
- yes, I noticed…and more time yours on ‘style’ as it were…
“Just Say What You Men Dude Number 2 describes you two a tee.”
- and you know this ‘how’? You’ve peered through my window have you? Take your own advise, ‘men’- er, man…yes, Rin said/meant advise not advice – Old English, poetic license and too the love of God here in my big, beautiful blue-hued ojos be the thing, don’t you know…dude.
(PS) btw, what do you think of the Chiefs, Herm Edwards, the heartbreak of psoriasis, etc.?
Bob, this article is a microcosim (sp) of what is wrong with this rebuild. Allen is wrong and Bob points out we got Albert, et al for him. Execpt we could of go Albert in sted of that he man Dorsey and the other we might of missed on, ok.
clark and herm talk regularily – Apparently a waste of time for both. If I was winning one game a year the last thing I would want is to talk to the boss. I wonder if clark talks to his soccer team regularily, they seem to win, maybe not.
herm has a college team now – What a major error. I did not know we hired the handicapped to coach the chiefs. He apparently tried to use a college team to fill KC’s spot in the NFL, way to save $30+ million.
If things look bad today, imagine next year. 15 more 1st year players (carl sure likes hiding behind having too many young players, tv last sunday). This rebuild will take 5 years, how many loses will that be??
Rin Tin Tin….after reading your posts I find that I’m none the wiser. You keep writing like that and I’ll find myself just skipping your posts….and I bet I’m not the only one who will do that. Anyway…..I’m glad the Chiefs are going to stick to the plan and not abort prematurely. Now is not the time to get wishy-washy.
I did it again. I was the anonymous poster above.
Also…I see the similarity to Rufus also. I don’t read him anymore either.
Actually I always read Rufus Dawes. He fit nicely in my image of the arrogant chiefs organization. Most of his articles are full of the bile of how the chiefs look at KC…..”who are you to question the brilliance of anything we do here, from hotdogs to parking to players”.
ALAS!!!!!
More writings that probably go over well at some bar called The Pink Bananna.
Once again Rin has RE-affirmed…sperms his drink!
“Rin Tin Tin”
- yes, what is it now?
“after reading your posts I find that I’m none the wiser.”
- grim self-realization yours, and what an indictment same too. Your rapt-attentioned subscriber-status is duly noted, appreciated & your name shall be added to the adulation line mine, now brimming o’er the right…thank you.
“You keep writing like that and I’ll find myself just skipping your posts”
- promise? Or is it promises, promises? Hurt my feeling swill you? PLEASE, I beg of you. That.
This just in – the ‘only’ person contributing on this blog could be Bob Gretz and verily Rin would be satisfied…ditto if Rin alone were the only. Don’t know why you’re here – whether be to enjoy or suffer (your choice entertainment value) me, for affirmation or some other, but – and I have iterated this afore – Rin’s here to but read the latest Chiefs news courtesy our man Bob, and to afford another cogent opinion -mine- to augment his…whether or not it is agreement or dissent. Whether you/anyone reads, agrees or appreciates my takes is a matter of ‘que sera sera’ to Rin. Personally, I love reading Bob’s takes…almost as much as I enjoy my own…you do as you will. Now move along little doggie, move along.
“and”
- yes?
“I bet”
- not me, a fool is soon parted from his money don’t all gamblers know – and you were saying?
“I’m not the only one”
- yes, ignorance becomes epidemic the greater the dedication its adherents…
“who will do that.”
- uh…you, Anon?
“Anyway”
- (drum roll)
“I’m glad the Chiefs are going to stick to the plan and not abort prematurely. Now is not the time to get wishy-washy.”
- yes…and thank you for playing…or being, case be. (Rim shot/cymbal crash!)
Now that we’ve been properly introduced, welcome and if ever you want to talk football instead of embracing pummel, shoot me a line.
Just here to talk football really. Don’t like my style of blogging? Remove the death grip yours upon my takes & proceed on to someone else’s.
And stop vexing my spirit…Rin bites back.
heh heh heh
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Your pal
Rin
I wonder how Herms “I’m already coaching a college team” statement makes the players on his team feel? I’m sure they feel real great and are getting real motivated to play for a coach who can’t even acknowledge them as Pros.
You guys are all idiots. Haters. I will bet that as soon as the Chiefs are winning with these same guys, you will be running around telling anyone who listens how you knew it all the time. What a bunch of bozos.
Bob,
This question is for you: I watched 38 the Spot on Monday and columnist-Nick Athens was being interviewed and he did state there is talk about Herm going to San Diego College and the San Diego College head coach would come here. Nick was asked if Herm would be willing to do this and Nick’s comment was “Not sure, he is coaching college kids now and it isn’t working out to well”. So when Herm said this it seemed to be taken right from what Nick said. Does Herm having any original comments other than going off someone else’s statement. Also, do you know why the Season Ticket Holders (taking a big loss of $ on tickets) did not get offered free MU-KU tickets?
Maybe we haters will say “we knew it all the time” someday but it will not be this year, next year, or probably the next. And unless clark changes his spots there is a good possibility not for 5 to 7 years from now. Will you, leonard, or I still be into pro football or even alive then??
It is funny that organizations keep showing interest in Herm when he has no record of accomplishment as a head coach. The playoffs in NY were a result of a previous staff putting together a team. It’s kind of like the NFL’s obsession with hiring Norv Turner as a HC. The guy has done nothing successful beyond being the offensive coordinator of Dallas.
Brenda – I think the college is San Diego State and if I’m not mistaken, the HC was Chuck Long. It is surely a joke that he would come to the Chiefs in a switch. It was his first job as a head coach and he failed miserably, although I guess you could say there are similarities…
As for those who are constantly bemoaning being $30M under the cap, please, there aren’t exactly a bund of franchise players out there just waiting for KC’s money. We could certainly overpay for mediocre talent if you like, we’ve seen it before. I for one am glad they are way under the cap. It actually gives them room to target top free agents that fit with the team. No more Ty Law’s or other has beens.
Leonard I agree with you. It will be that way…
Bob,
Great articles! Thanks for acknowledging on the Chiefs Website what everyone seems to forget: A quarterback, any quarterback, can’t win the game and they can’t even carry the team… it takes everyone.
How about addressing whether the Chiefs “could” use remaining cap dollars for 08′ to extend contracts for players such as DJ or carry the cap dollars over to 09′. Also, are all of the players we have signed mid season due to injuries counted against the 08′ cap dollars?
tm1946,
Agreed. The amount of hubris out at 1 Arrowhead Drive is amazing. (not in a good way!)
You don’t give away your good players when you are rebuilding, you add to them. This should be a mortal sin committed by Herm/Carl in the eyes of Clark Hunt. Allen should still be a Chief.
How can people say the playoffs in NY was put together by the previous coach when he was there 5 years. He went to the playoffs 3 years out of his 5 year tenure as head coach. And to add to that Parcells had been two years removed before he took over as head coach.
Thats like giving Gunther credit for Vermeil in KC during his tenure as coach. And the guy actually won playoff games in NY, something this team hasn’t done in 15 years.
Next what type of question was that to ask him. Whether the Jared Allen trade a good move. Didn’t anyone see this team in 2007 when he was here. We were horrible at alot of positions. At least now its only down to four positions we need to address middle linebacker,defensive end,right tackle and right guard. If those holes get field in the offseason we’ll win alot of games next year.
Alright ED – cut, it, out – that will be quite enough! Stop placing cogent ‘factoids’ therein your posts…we just cannot allow folks to but come to appreciate Herm; why…what would they grouse about thence?
Gretz, you make a HUGE assumption that Clark gave Herm Edwards a blank check, when in fact he hired Herm to rebuild the team within a certain period of time, and have the team get better over time.
that is not what Herm has demonstrated so far.
————————————————
An example:
The govt says my home is not safe for habitation, so I have the house torn down and the foundation removed and REBUILD.
I hire a contractor to rebuild the house within (lets be generous) 1yr, and to demonstrate progress.
The contractor pours the concrete, and puts up the structural frame, but is taking longer than anticipated. When I go look at the progress being made, I notice cracks in the foundation, and notice the roof that was put up has aldready fallen off! That is not progress, and the contractor doesnt appear to be doing a competent job!
Now its been over a year, and the rebuild is not completed and there are major cost overuns. I can either keep the contractor and hope the work is completed to satisfaction, or cut my losses and get somebody else to finish the job on time and correctly.
————————
That analogy is akin to the rebuild of the chiefs and hiring Herm Edwards to do it. From what Clark has said in the past, it doesnt appear that he has signed off on the team being the worst in franchise history. When he sees the defense, I dont think he can believe their has been significant progress since the start of the season.
Clark can either choose to allow Herm to continue trying to complete the rebuild, or he can hire another coach to finish the job.
“rebuild the team within a certain period of time”
- and as of November 27, this process – which by definition is gradual changes that lead toward a particular result – is still nascent, nee in but the embryonic stage…
“and have the team get better over time.”
- and the rebuild started so recently that the paint isn’t even yet dry – in fact, the colors the offensive scheme were just recently agreed upon…defense still being only in the compare the swatches phase…
“that is not what Herm has demonstrated so far.”
- emphasis on ‘so far’ – so we should forfeit the football game before our allotted :60 minutes has passed? And, after but 11 games a 16 game season ‘first’ its rebuild? Too, what if the game goes to overtime? Do we go Roberto Duran, say “no más?”
“you make a HUGE assumption that Clark gave Herm Edwards a blank check”
- conversely same difference the other, you make a GIANT LEAP of faith, even more so fervent hope appears, that he has ‘not’ given Herm said…
(PS) By the way…regards your belief there may be ‘cracks in the foundation’& the roof has but fallen off, plus the contractor does not appear to be doing a competent job’, who on the Chiefs plays the part of the fallen roof? I’m guessing that must be Brodie, with Damon playing a minor supporting role – Tyler Thigpen is David to the media’s Goliath.
We know Carl is the contractor because he hired Herm, not Clark (latter of course being Yahweh.) We know Herm is the one who’s being crucified so obviously he’s Jesus…and Rin Tin Tin of course is Moses ‘the greatest prophet who ever lived’.
Chan Gailey is Noah, Gunther is Abraham and Judas Iscariot is…Judas is…well, we’ll just have to wait & see if he nee one emerges this off-season, or whether he is in fact more a myth (created by the exiled members Temple (One Arrowhead Drive)- ticket holders driven out via their own device nee vice.
The paying for and pursuit of a good product be not evil, rather, their desecration the process by putting selfish desires own before the grand plan brought shame upon them and ultimately led to their demise as faithful fans.
Tomorrow: another Parable from The Book of Rin.
Clark Hunt said he wanted to see the 2008 team get better as the season progresses (particularly the 2nd half of the season), and that he wants to see the team compete for a playoff spot.
So far that has not happened, and that is not the blank check that Gretz implies.
Dr. Dr. gonna give you the news – Chiefs got a, young team of nascent hue!
“Clark Hunt said he wanted to see the 2008 team get better as the season progresses (particularly the 2nd half of the season), and that he wants to see the team compete for a playoff spot.”
- and they are – ‘getting better’ – W/L record obviously not the only measure…players too.
QB Thigpen has obviously gotten better…Branden Albert, a ‘rookie’ NFL LT who never has his name called – a good thing! And place kicker – ditto, no more worries since Connor Barth arrived, he’s perfect on fgs & pats- even his kickoffs I’m not convinced are lacking any, short/angled at times due as much to coaching strategy anything other, Novak & Medlock distant memories. O-line playing better, Bradley, Charles, Cottam et al. Progress, in spades.
Defense? Injuries may or may not not qualify as excuse said depending purview, but are none the less causative and even here, difference ‘tween three (3) rookie CBs in Carr, Flowers & Leggett and a Ty Law the 2007 cast et al is wonderfully evident. Pollard too is better than he was 2007, as was McBride afore he was injured and lost for the year. Dorsey, Glenn? See Smith, Neil circa 1988, or Haynesworth, Albert his freshman year, examples other too being plentiful.
Is it all perfect? No. Is this glass half full and on the brink of being refilled to the top? That is my belief, the missing portion while it may or may not be measured in wins these last 5 games is unquestionably realized in the now 11 games experience gleaned to date & will too be augmented by another draft class and free agent possibilities come 2009.
Am I a politician? No, just a Kansas City Chiefs fan who ‘can’ see the forest ‘despite’ the trees, and too “beyond the blue horizon” to quote an old song standby.
“So far that has not happened”
- as demonstrated, Rin unquestionably must disagree…
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-01-17-2814734470_x.htm
Some of Clark’s quotes January 2008 which portend a hope tinged consistency the eternal ‘optimist’, one clinging to shipwreck while imagining rescue, while appearing resigned to another possibility if the pretty pictures and drama are removed and just reality intrudes nee remains:
“I’m going to look for two or three different things,” he said.
“First of all, the win-loss record. I understand that we’re in a rebuilding phase & it’s difficult to go from 4-12 to 12-4. But we should at least be able to compete for a playoff spot.
“I also expect that we will be greatly improved on the offensive side of the ball.
“Third, as the season goes along I’d like to see us playing better than we did at the beginning of the season. We’re going to have a young football team, a young quarterback and a new coordinator. You would expect over the course of the year they’d get better. You can contrast that to 2007 where we probably played worse as the season went along. I expect to see the opposite next year.”
- best two out of three, 2008 Chiefs qualify… no playoff spot nor a part n’ parcel gaudy win total, but greatly improved on offense and too playing better.
“I’m realistic and patient to some degree.”
- hedging his bet here…
“But I also know that in the NFL you can quickly turn things around,” he said. “I think you can look at a franchise like Green Bay who three years ago was in the same spot we’re in. They were 4-12.”
- three years ago date of this article would have been on the precipice Green Bay’s hitting bottom, 2005 season’s 4-12 finale. 2006 ended 8-8, 2007 13-3, and now 2008 back ‘down’ to 5-6 to date… this with a young team, like KC’s – proving that progress is a chancy matter & not rooted in any certainty return – baby steps – two forward and one back being evidentiary.
Would that all rebuilds look the same or proceed as an owner, coach or a fandom might own destiny.
KC has now hit the bottom in 2008…if the script follows as the authors intend, 2009 and 2010 will be worth waiting for.
Perhaps the truth is or, at least in the truest sense of perception be that we ‘all’ see what we want to see…
We need to address the obvious here. We need a pass rush in the worst way. Julius Peppers on our D-Line would make our entire Defense better. It would give Tamba the single team blocking he enjoyed in his rookie season, and our LBs and secondary would benefit. A pass rush needs to be a top priority in free agency and the draft. A solid Middle Linebacker like USC’s Manulaga (I think thats how u spell it). This defense needs a pass rush and need to be in attack mode like we were in the 90s with DT.
rin,
you say the chiefs are emulating green bay, but look at how green bay is without brett farve….they too are STILL rebuilding.
J peso,
the chiefs have done nothing BUT draft defensive players….and it hasnt worked.
Mal, IMO, is not a fit for the chiefs 4-3 D as a MLB. Doesnt have the speed. Laurantis would be better, but Vilma would be perfect.
“look at how green bay is without brett farve”
- yes, look: 5-6 as I said…and your point…doctor?
“they too are STILL rebuilding.
– not sure how a team ‘rebuilds’ from a 13-3 season and being on the brink of going to the Superbowl. Doubt Brett Favre would have made any appreciable difference in their record this year had he stayed in Green Bay. Maybe another win or two? Maybe not?
GB’s problem is endemic beyond the QB position in my opinion. And too remember, GB is a year ahead of the Chiefs comparison sake: GB’s rock bottom was 2005, and they didn’t get past even a .500 record until TWO years after their bottom fell out, going 13-3 in 2007. And now, back down the up staircase success as it were.
Herm/KC are still in year one/rock bottom mode, rebuild. More losses to come, likely.
To each their own doc, all I’m saying is the Chiefs are going to require patience – more patience. Even though it’s been some 40 years, wait we must. Even tearing down & starting over again with a new Head Coach/GM etc. will likely not result in any quicker success, based on the history of most other teams.
Catch lightning in a bottle? Possible, unlikely. Each team/situation is different. People talk about MIA with Parcells…they’ve yet to really accomplish anything beyond media attention. They are ahead of KC because their rebuild/rock bottom started ‘last’ year.
It took Vermeil unti his own year three here in KC to even reach the playoffs – and his team got its behind handed to it when he did get there.
Success? Not to me.
Herm got to the playoffs his first season in KC for comparison. “Yeah but he inherited Vermeil’s team” goes the cry!
Really, did he? That’s like saying Jon Gruden took advantage of the success Herm & Dungy et al had in Tampa Bay before they left. Too simplistic a means of thought. We can all hypothesize but in TB’s case, Dungy didn’t win while he was there – Gruden did – a Superbowl. Why didn’t Dungy win anything until he went to INDY and took some more ‘years’ to do so?
KC’s team ‘missed’ the playoffs in Vermeil’s last season – yet Edwards took that same team the next year ‘to’ the playoffs, with Herm’s own tweaks applied as it were.
Who can say ‘who’ is responsible, really, for the success any, a former regime or the latter? Such subjective bias reigns supreme.
Keep the faith.
Rin leave Religion out of this, did anyone ever tell you that you are blah blah blah